Herdecke between Hengsteysee and Harkortsee
Accommodation in Herdecke
Herdecke lies between Hengsteysee and Harkortsee. Lakes, paths and striking buildings offer different ways to shape your stay: explore cycle routes and lakeshores, stroll through the historic Old Town or learn about the history of energy production.
Water, Cycle Routes and Outdoor Activities
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route runs directly through Herdecke, along the shores of Hengsteysee and Harkortsee and beneath the Ruhr Viaduct. Another landmark for cyclists is the Koepchenwerk on Hengsteysee: a four-kilometre stage of the Industrial Heritage Route begins there on the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. Herdecke’s bike station offers bicycle storage, bike rentals and minor repairs.
The lakeside landscape can also be explored on foot or along shorter routes. A seven-kilometre path circles Hengsteysee and can be used for walking, jogging and cycling. The H1 circular route begins south of the MĂĽhlencenter in Herdecke an der Ruhr; its flat access path leads towards Harkortsee. The well-maintained paths around both lakes also offer opportunities for jogging and inline skating. Harkortsee and Hengsteysee are ideal for canoeing and rowing. Those who prefer a wooded setting will find hiking opportunities and nature experiences among the hills of the Ardey Mountains in Herdecke.
Discover the Old Town and Industrial Heritage
A stroll through the historic Old Town takes you through the Bachviertel and around the 1,000-year-old Stiftshügel. A wayfinding system and numbered information panels on historic buildings guide you along the route. Kampstraße is lined with historic half-timbered buildings featuring carriage archways; inscriptions by their builders give the years 1819 and 1809. The stroll brings together useful directions and tangible details from the town’s architectural history.
The Koepchenwerk is regarded as a nationally significant monument to the energy industry and combines technological history with modern energy-generation technology. The Ruhr Viaduct is another striking landmark: the 313-metre sandstone bridge rises almost 30 metres above Harkortsee. The surrounding area is ideal for walks and cycling tours. The two structures represent different sides of Herdecke: its industrial and energy history on the one hand, and the bridge as part of the lakeside landscape on the other.
Choosing where to stay
When planning your trip, you can prioritise activities according to your interests: the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route, the paths around Hengsteysee and opportunities for canoeing and rowing are ideal for active time outdoors; a stroll through the Old Town, half-timbered buildings and the Koepchenwerk offer a different focus. The steel lattice bridge at the Hengsteysee weir was built in 1928. It serves as a railway bridge supplying the Koepchenwerk and as an important pedestrian and cycling link from northern Hagen to the local recreation areas in Herdecke.
If train connections are important for your journey: Herdecke railway station has services to Hagen and Dortmund and is a 10–15-minute walk away. Check the timetables for your travel date.
More to discover in Ennepe-Ruhr District
The wider Ennepe-Ruhr District has other attractions to discover, too. At the LWL Industrial Museum Henrichshütte Hattingen, visitors can follow the flow of materials—from ore, coke and limestone to molten pig iron—along the “Path of Iron”. A glass elevator takes you up to the 55-metre-high “Giant”, which offers views of the region’s past and present. Hiking and jogging are possible at the Glörtalsperre reservoir; in the warm summer months, it also offers the opportunity to swim in clean, natural water.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Gevelsberg, Hattingen, Ennepetal, Schwelm, Sprockhövel, Breckerfeld, Wetter, Witten.
Back to the main travel overview: Ennepe-Ruhr District.
